It was announced this week that Hindustan Motors is going to stop making our beloved Ambassadors (see here). As a swift karmic reaction to our celebrations over the inevitable sky-rocketing value of our car, this is unfortunately becoming a fairly normal scene.
I know this is a terrible photo, but it's just to illustrate that today there was a HUGE dust, wind and rain storm in Delhi which brought down loads of trees and branches. There have been a few recently and 14 people have been killed. They're quite scary!
Meanwhile back in Delhi, Ed and the boys go to an American burger bar to celebrate a friend's birthday. With dancing waiters.
This is the towel art that greeted me in my hotel room. Towel art is a thing apparently. Many more examples here, should anyone be interested.
Colombo, Sri Lanka! Sadly I didn't get to see very much other than the inside of the hotel (as the next couple of photos will testify), but I'm definitely going back.
Especially when she's your mother.
It's 42 degrees and counting which makes the pool our top destination at the moment (not counting the arcade). It's decadent, but we'd be lost without it.
This man has been selling bananas from his bike in Khan Market for as long as I can remember - it could be as much as 20 years since I first saw him standing in the same place. One day I will interview him but for now he is bike shop #11.
Meanwhile the kids have discovered an arcade on the top floor of a nearby mall - Louie went there with some friends and it is now considered to be the most desirable place to go in Delhi. I haven't been there yet but it is unlikely that I will share their enthusiasm.
I'm travelling far too much at the moment. This is the plane we took back from Chandigarh in Punjab where we went for a meeting with the state government.
I love this genius rubbish collecting cart. Am wondering whether we could construct something similar to ferry the kids around ...
It's mango season in India and I think I'm right in saying that there's a bit of a surplus because the EU has decided they're importing them because of the risk of fruit flies. More for us!
As promised, here is one of the roads in Delhi that is lined with Amaltas trees - apparently also known as 'golden showers'. This is Amrita Shergill Marg, named after a famous Punjabi artist. You can read more about her here.
Oslo's class had an end of term party at the bowling alley at the American Embassy (Yes. They have a bowling alley). Look at Oslo's friend Ye-Won jumping on the left - she'd just scored her fourth spare, having never bowled before. She's six.
A very sensible sign at the High Commission. Andrew - shall I see if I can nick it and we can put it up somewhere prominent on the street?
I was in Chennai this week, working on our portfolio of digital resources for teachers and learners in India. This seems liked a suitable photo - it's in the restaurant of the hotel we stayed in. I've only just noticed the pattern on his clothing.
For the last few weeks, Oslo's class has been incubating eggs and learning about the life cycle of a chicken. A few days ago they finally hatched and here they are in the brooder. Before chicks, they did snails and before snails they studied worms. Luckily the year ends at the end of the month, otherwise who knows what they'd do next.
Summer is most definitely here. The 'Refrigerated Cold Water' trolleys are out in full force. I've yet to brave one of their drinks, but you can't beat 2 rupees (2p) for a glass of something cold ...
London may be gearing up for the Chelsea Flower Show, but Delhi is a whole city in bloom. These are my favourite - the amaltas trees - there are a few roads in Delhi that are lined with them. Will try and get a photo of one soon.
We went to the cricket! Not the most riveting of sports in my opinion - there seems to be an awful lot of standing around - but the atmosphere was great with music, cheerleaders and lots of dancing when they bat 4s and 6s. It was an IPL match - the new(ish) 20:20 format. Delhi Daredevils vs Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Delhi Daredevils are captained by Kevin Pietersen and we also saw Dale Steyn close up next to the boundary fence which caused huge excitement in the crowd (and for Louie who has his Cricket Attax player card). Unfortunately rain stopped play twice so we ended up leaving before the end but Hyderabad won.
Have I posted a photo of this lovely green Ambassador before? I have a vague feeling that I might have done ... it's always parked in the same place. The roof rack and the painted hub caps are the best.
Can't quite decide if this qualifies as a bike shop or not ... summer is here and the chick blind makers (window blinds) are out in full force. They set up their wares like this on the side of the road, come to your house to measure up and then deliver a few days later.
